Retail trade turnover up 13.6% in Romania in March this year

Romania’s retail turnover, except trade of motor vehicles and motorcycles, grew by 13.6 percent in March this year compared to the same month in 2013, according to the latest data provided by the National Statistics Institute (INS). The increase was mainly caused by car fuel trade in specialized stores which went up by 17.4 percent, but also by the sales of non-food products which grew by 16 percent. The increase in fuel sales may have been determined by the new petrol and diesel excise of 7 eurocents per liter which was introduced at April 1. Many Romanians rushed to fill their tanks before that date. Sales of food, beverages and tobacco were also up by 8.1 percent in March. In the first quarter of 2014, the retail trade turnover was up 9.3 percent, INS data shows. Sales of non-food products grew the most, by 13.1 percent, followed by fuel sales (+7.1 percent) and food (+6.1 percent). The data is encouraging and shows that the robust GDP growth that Romania reported last year, which was supported mainly by exports of industrial goods, is finally starting to show on the local market as well. Last year, Romania’s GDP was up by 3.5 percent but retail sales grew by just 0.4 percent. editor@romania-insider.com